FIRE BOARD.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19413, 12 September 1928, Page 17

FIRE BOARD.

MONTHLY MEETING.* The Christchurch Fire Board met last night. Present: Messrs J. R. Cameron (chairman), A. Williams, E. W. Robinson, E. H< Andrews,' E. R. 6usbridge, J. K. Archer, and G. D. Mcllraith. ' The Town Clerk (Mr 3. S. Neville) 'wrote that the City Engineer had conferred with the City, Solicitor and had arranged for a new building by-law to give effect to the superintendent's suggestion regarding portable gas coppers. , The Canterbury. Fire and Accident XJnderfrriters' Association drew attention to a statement received by •it in connexion with the fire' on August 7 th' at Linwood, to the effect- that the brigade was runs ,up at 6.10 pjn., and that it was between; 6.80 p.m. and 6.35 p.m. before the brigade reached the scene. A great amount of the damage done was due, if was alleged, to the delay of the brigade in reaching the fire. ' The . chairman quoted from '.'The Occurrence Book", of the brigade to the effect that on August 7th, at 6.20 p.m., a call was received by exchange telephone; then from two duplex boxes-r-one at the corner of Cashel street and Stanmore / road and the other at the corner of Stanmore read and Gloucester street. . \V The chairman said that the three alarms were received practically, simultaneously at 6.20 p.m., and the superintendent had told him the outsidd, the brigade was on the scene five minutes. later. Replying to Mr -Archer, the'chairman said, that probably the information was given to the Association by one of its members from information given by one of those affected, by' the fire. - It appeared from the - records, that 6.10 p.m. was wrong; the book- distinctly stated 6.20.. - Mr Williams said' the 'time in the book could be checked (if necessary) by -consulting/the tape of the automatic alarm recording instrument. . On the motion of Mr Robinson it was decided to'advise the Association in the terms of the entry in "The Occurrence Book." The superintendent's report (August 7th to September 6th) recorded that < 81 cqlls were received; IS-"were for actual fires in the City, 9 were' malicious - false alarms, 2 were chimney fires, 1 hedge fire, 2 were for fires in Fendalton, lin Riccarton, and-1 }n Halswell. Estimated: fire loss, £3664; insurance on buildings and contents, £10,500; and 'estimated value of property affected, £15,575. Estimated loss in respect of fires outside the fire district was £692, insurance £Boso* and valne £4225. All - the stations and - plant were "in good working condition, bftt solid tyres on three of the motors. would require renewing next year. The installation of a second panel on the Duplex switchboard was in The hose and foamite generator on { order was shipped from London about the middle-of. last month, and should come to hand next month. . , The report was adopted.